§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations he has made into the effects on health of extremely low frequency radio transmissions; and if he will made a statement. [153044]
§ Yvette CooperThe Department obtains advice on potential health effects risks associated with extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). A report published on 6 March by the NRPB's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation was a review of all available published work to date and provides an assessment of the potential risks of cancer from electromagnetic fields (Documents of the NRPB Volume 12, Number 1,2001). Copies are available in the Library. The board of the NRPB also published a response statement which can be found on the NRPB website: www.nrpb.org.uk.
The report states that any possible risk of childhood leukaemia relates to those exposed at relatively high levels of domestic exposure but that these are not necessarily associated with proximity to pylons or overhead power transmission lines. The conclusions indicate that the question whether exposure to electromagnetic fields can influence the development of cancer cannot at present be completely resolved. The report made a number of specific research recommendations. The NRPB consider that the report provides no additional scientific evidence to require a change in the guidelines to limit exposure to extremely low frequency EMF.
The Department will consider carefully the recommendations of the NRPB and commission appropriate research in the light of that which is already under way. Current research includes a number of Government-funded studies in this country and support for the multinational electromagnetic fields project set up and co-ordinated by the World Health Organisation.